DHS to centralize budgeting, acquisition

Mar. 13, 2014 - 06:00AM
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The Department of Homeland Security is beginning to centralize its budgeting and acquisition processes in order to boost efficiency, according to DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson.

At a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing March 13, Johnson said that for future requests the agency will first conduct a headquarters review of its goals and strategies and provide budget guidance to agency components.

“We are creating a budget process that is mission-based,” Johnson said.

The agency will also provide guidance on acquisitions based off a headquarters review in order to reduce duplication and provide better services.

While the agency has been able to fill several vacant management positions, such as the recent confirmation of Suzanne Spaulding to be the new under secretary at DHS there are still several people pending confirmation and several more vacancies.

Johnson said there are up to six more vacancies at DHS that he is actively recruiting for and has at least one candidate in mind for reach open position.

He said filling those vacancies will help the agency function better and would improve morale at DHS. ■